Tokyo, February 15 (QNA) - A volcano on Sakurajima in Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan erupted, with plumes rising to 5,000 meters above the summit crater for the first time since 2020, a local weather observatory said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries and damage to buildings, the prefectural government said, while the Kagoshima Meteorological Office maintained the volcanic activity alert level at three, urging people not to approach the volcano.

The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast volcanic ashes to fall in parts of Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures.

The explosive eruption occurred at the Minamidake crater last night, and it is the first time for plumes rising to 5,000 meters since Aug. 9, 2020, when an eruption occurred at the same crater.

Rocks flew for a distance of 1,000 to 1,300 meters but no pyroclastic flows were generated, according to the local weather office.

Japan is located in the "Ring of Fire" in the Pacific Ocean, which experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The latest evacuation warning was issued in 2015 when the volcano on the island of Kuchinoerabu, also located in the Kagoshima region, erupted. (QNA)